SERIAL KILLER AND POLICE OFFICIAL SENTENCED TO FOUR LIFE TERMS EACH FOR VIOLENT CRIMES

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence handed down by the Pretoria High Court, in which Rassie Hlabirwa Nkune (37) from Mpumalanga, and former police official Jacob Mothibe Chego (41), previously employed at the White River Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit (VCIU), were each sentenced to two life terms for two counts of premeditated murder of a couple, Lucky and Sabeliwe Zwane Mogashoa, as well two life terms for two counts of conspiracy to commit murder, 5 years each for four counts of kidnapping, 5 years each for fraud and 5 years each for defeating the ends of justice. In addition, Nkune was sentenced to 15 years each for two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. The court ordered that the sentences should run concurrently with that of life imprisonment and declared them unfit to possess a firearm. After the sentencing, Chego, through his legal representative, brought an application for leave to appeal his conviction and sentence as well as an application for the court to release him on bail while awaiting his application to petition to supreme court of appeal. However, both applications were successfully opposed by the NPA.

On 16 March 2022, Mr Mogashoa received a call from Chego informing him that his vehicle, which had been reported stolen in 2018, had allegedly been recovered and was being held at the White River police vehicle impound. The following day, Nkune, posing as a police officer, contacted Mr Mogashoa and informed him that he would visit his residence in Roodepoort to collect documentation related to the recovered vehicle. Upon arrival, Nkune was given the documents, and arrangements were made for a meeting on 19 March 2022 to collect the vehicle from the impound. On that day, Mr Mogashoa, his wife and their two minor children, aged one and eight, travelled to Benoni, where they picked Nkune at a petrol station. While en route to the White River vehicle impound, Nkune instructed Mogashoa at gunpoint to stop the vehicle at an open veld in Etwatwa. He then ordered the couple to get out of the vehicle, leaving their two young children inside. Nkune forced the couple into the veld, where he shot both in the head while the children remained in the car.

After committing the murders, Nkune returned to the vehicle, drove with the children to another nearby area, abandoned them in the vehicle, and fled the scene on foot. The eight-year-old child then took the younger sibling and walked in search of help. While walking along the N12 highway, they were assisted by a woman who took them to a nearby police station, where the incident was reported. Following investigations, Nkune was arrested while already in custody, serving a life sentence for the murder of two women in a separate case. On 16 April 2024, Chego and his co-accused, Elvis Press Makhubela (now deceased), handed themselves over to the police at the Springs police station. They were arrested and subsequently released on bail.

In court, both Nkune and Chego pleaded not guilty and denied committing the offences. However, State Prosecutor Advocate Tholoana Sekhonyana presented compelling evidence, including testimony from the eight-year-old child and Nkune’s associate, which proved the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

In delivering judgment, the Court found the state witnesses to be credible, reliable, and corroborated by objective evidence. The Court further found that Nkune and Chego had jointly planned and executed the crimes and accordingly convicted them on all counts.

During the sentencing proceedings, the two, through their legal representative, asked the court to deviate from imposing the prescribed minimum sentence and argued that they have minor children. Advocate Sekhonyana for the state, argued that the two did not show remorse and that they committed a gruesome crime of murder of a couple in front of their two minor children, while the mother was 6 months pregnant. Advocate Sekhonyana also read into the record the Victim Impact Statements (VIS) facilitated by the Court Preparation Officer Lebogang Lebese where the minor child expressed that the incident affected his schoolwork such that his grades dropped. The two families also indicated that the incident has affected them psychologically, physically and financially.

In delivering the sentence, the Judge agreed with the state that the two did not show any remorse and as such, the court found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentences.

The NPA remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime, including those in positions of trust, are held accountable for their actions. This sentence sends a clear message that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will face the full might of the law. The NPA reaffirms its unwavering commitment to delivering justice for victims of violent crime and their families.

Issued by:

Lumka Mahanjana

NPA Regional Spokesperson

Gauteng Division: Pretoria